Building Papers:

Products, Standards
and Installation

BETEC
June 10.2004
Arlington, VA
Dave Olson
DOlson@Fortifiber.com
Presentation Summary

• Product Review
• Product Standards
• Building Codes
• Product Installation
•Exposure
•Product Compatibility
• Research and Development Projects
 Asphalt Saturated Kraft Paper
Timeline

• 1960’s 10 Minute Paper, 30 Minute Paper

• Mid 1960’s Paper integrated onto expanded metal
lath/woven wire
• 1979 UBC Requirement for 2 layers Grade D
• 1980’s 60 Minute Paper, 2 Ply Products
• 2000’s Rainscreen combinations
• 2004 IRC/IBC Requirement for 2 layers Grade D
Review of Major Manufacturers

• Fortifiber Building Systems Group

– Fernley, NV
– Los Angeles, CA
• Hal Industries
– Surrey, British Columbia
• Davis Wire
– Irwindale, CA
Manufacturing Process
Products

• Asphalt-saturated Kraft
paper (Grade D) also
available in 2-ply rolls
– 10 minute
– 30 minute
– 60 minute
2-Ply Products
 Review of Products
Formulations to Address a Wide Variety of Applications
Fortifiber Fortifiber Fortifiber Fortifiber
Fortifiber Fortifiber
Major Manufacturers Hal Hal Hal Hal
Davis Wire Davis Wire
Davis Wire Davis Wire Davis Wire Davis Wire
Water Holdout
20-Minutes 30-Minutes 60-Minutes 110-Minutes 133-Minutes 150-Minutes
ASTM D-779
Vapor Permeability 200 Grams 170 Grams 75 Grams 95 Grams 103 Grams 67 Grams
ASTM E-96 29 perms 25 perms 11 perms 14 perms 15 perms 10 perms
Tensile Strength MD 70 lb. f/inch 68 lb. f/inch 70 lb. f/inch 144 lb. f/inch 144 lb. f/inch 160 lb. f/inch
ASTM D-828 CD 29 lb. f/inch 31 lb. f/inch 60 lb. f/inch 58 lb. f/inch 58 lb. f/inch 110 lb. f/inch
Number of Plies
One One One Two Two Two
(Layers of paper)
40”x324 Sq Ft 40”x324 Sq Ft 40”x162 Sq Ft 40”x162 Sq Ft
Roll Sizes 40”x240 Sq Ft 40”x162 Sq Ft
500 500 250 250
Paperback Woven Wire Rolls
Paperback Expanded Metal Lath
Sheets
Innovative Rainscreen
Asphalt Saturated Kraft Paper
A single layer of cellulose fibers. The fiber source is
mostly from virgin, unbleached softwood pulp and may
have a small percentage of recycled fiber. This results in
paper having a:

•More uniform fiber structure

•Small pore size

•Dense fiber matrix.

Asphalt Building Paper
Top View (200X)
Roofing Felt
Felt consists of multiple layers of loosely laid cellulose
fibers. The fiber source is unbleached softwood pulp and a
high percentage of recycled fibers. This results in felt
having a:

•Less uniform fiber structure

•Larger pore size

•Bulky matrix.
No.15 Roofing Felt
Felt and Kraft Paper to Scale
 Water Vapor Transmission Characteristics

Vapor Transm ission vs %Rh

Isotherm al at 70 deg F
100

90
Uncorrected Experimental Data
80 Actual Permeance + 50% Fortifiber Corporation
P d tb h i t d i t t Confidential Information
70

60 HD 30
Permeance

JT 20
50
Super 60
40
#15 Felt
30
Super Jumbo Tex 60
20
Jumbo Tex 20
10
Heavy Duty 30
0 #15 Felt
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
% Rh Fred Baker - April 12, 2004
 Federal Specification UU-B-790a
• Federal Specification for Building Paper, Vegetable Fiber:
–(Kraft, Waterproofed, Water Repellant and Fire Resistant)
–Classifies paper in terms of:

• 4 Types

• 4 Grades

• 12 Styles
Federal Specification UU-B-790a

Paper Types

–Type I - Barrier Paper

–Type II – Concrete Curing Paper
–Type III – Fire resistant
–Type IV – Insulation tape paper
Federal Specification UU-B-790a

Paper Styles

Style 1a, Uncreped, not reinforced

Style 1b, Uncreped, not reinforced, red rosin sized
Style 2, Uncreped, not reinforced, saturated
“
“
“
“
Style 11 - Reinforced
Federal Specification UU-B-790a

Paper Grades

–Grade A – High water vapor resistance

–Grade B - Moderate water-vapor resistance
–Grade C – Water resistant
–Grade D – Water –vapor permeable
 Federal Specification UU-B-790a

TABLE 14-1-A-GRADE REQUIREMENTS

GRADE

PHYSICAL PROPERTY REQUIREMENT A B C D

Dry Tensile Strength 20 20 20 20

Lbs/inch width, both directions
Water resistance 24 16 8 1/6
Permeation of water through papers,
hours minimum
Water vapor transmission
Maximum 4 6 - -
Minimum - - - 35
Grams per sq. meter per 24 hours
 UU-B-790a
February 5, 1968
SUPERSEDING
Fed. Spec. UU-B-790
July 9, 1964

FEDERAL SPECIFICATION

BUILDING PAPER, VEGETABLE FIBER:

(KRAFT, WATERPROOFED, WATER REPELLENT

AND FIRE RESISTANT)

1. SCOPE AND CLASSIFICATION

1.1 Scope. This specification covers building papers composed predominantly of

sulphate pulp fibers.

1.2 Classification.

1.2.1 Types, grades and styles. The building papers shall be of the following types,
grades and styles, as specified (see 6.2):

Type I – Barrier Paper

Grade A – High water-vapor resistance.
Grade B – Moderate water-vapor resistance.
Grade C – Water resistant.
Grade D – Water-vapor permeable.
Style 1a – Uncreped, not reinforced.
Style 1b – Uncreped, not reinforced, red rosin sized.
Style 2 – Uncreped, not reinforced, saturated.
Style 3 – Creped one direction, not reinforced.
Style 4 – Uncreped, reinforced.
Style 5 – Creped one direction, reinforced.
Style 6 – Creped two directions, not reinforced.
Style 7 – Creped two directions, reinforced.
Type II – Concrete-curing paper.
Grade E – Moisture rentative.
Style 8 – Regular color, reinforced.
Style 9 – White, reinforced.
Type III – Fire-resistant paper.
Grade F – Water repellent.
Style 10 – 56-pound paper.
Type IV – Insulation tape paper.
Grade G – High tensile strength – water resistant.
Style II – Reinforced.
Building Codes/Product Standards
Asphalt Saturated Kraft Paper
Terminology – Code Review

Uniform Building Code Weather-resistive barrier

International Building Water-resistive barrier

Code

International Residential Weather-resistant sheathing

Code paper

National Building Code Wall sheathing membrane

Of Canada
 Water Management Assembly
• Drainage
Plane
• Drainage
Space
• Flashing
• Weep holes

•EEBA Water Management Guide

 ICC Acceptance Criteria
AC # 38
Dry Tensile Strength Lbs/inch width, both
directions

Water Resistance Permeation of water

through paper, hours
minimum

Water Vapor Transmission Grams per sq meter

per 24 hours
 ICC Acceptance Criteria
AC # 38
Grade D Requirements

Dry Tensile Strength 20lbs both machine

and cross direction

Water Resistance 10 minutes

Water Vapor Transmission

Maximum no limit
Minimum 35 grams
 Product Standards

ASTM D-779 Water Resistance of Paper, Paperboard, and other

Sheet Materials by the Dry Indicator Method ( Boat Test)

ASTM D-828-93 Tensile Properties of Paper, Paperboard using

Constant Rate of Elongation Apparatus

ASTM E-96-95 Water Vapor Transmission of Materials

 U.B.C. Requirements

Section 1402.1 Weather resistive barriers. All weather

–exposed surfaces shall have a weather resistive barrier
to protect interior wall covering. Such barrier shall be
equal to that provided for in the U.B.C. Standard 14-1 for
kraft waterproof building paper or asphalt saturated
rag felt.
 U.B.C. Requirements
2506.4 Weather resistive Barriers. Weather resistive
Barriers shall be installed as required in Section 1402.1
and, when applied over wood based sheathing, shall
include two layers of Grade D paper.
 U.B.C. Installation
Requirements

Such felt or paper shall be applied horizontally, with the

upper layer lapped over the lower layer not less than 2
inches. Where vertical joints occur, felt or paper shall be
lapped not less than 6 inches.
 2003 I.B.C Requirements

1404.2 Water –resistive barrier. A minimum of

one layer of No. 15 asphalt felt, complying with
ASTM D 226 for Type 1 felt shall be attached to
the sheathing, with flashing as described in Section
1405.3 in such a manner as to provide a continuous
water resistive barrier behind the exterior wall
veneer.
 2003 I.B.C.Requirements

2 layers of Grade D weather resistive barrier

behind stucco over wood based sheathing
 2003 I.R.C Requirements

R703.2 Weather resistant sheathing paper. Asphalt

saturated felt free from holes and breaks, weighing not
less than 14 lbs per 100 square feet (0.683 kg/m2) and
complying with ASTM D 226 or other approved
weather-resistant material shall be applied over studs or
sheathing of all exterior walls as required by table
R703.4.
 2003 I.R.C Installation
Requirements

Such felt or material shall be applied horizontally,

with the upper layer lapped over the lower layer not
less than 2 inches (51 mm). Where joints occur, felt
shall be lapped not less than 6 inches (152 mm).
 2003 I.R.C Installation
Requirements
Exception: Such felt or material is permitted to be
omitted in the following situations.
• In detached accessory buildings.
• Under panel siding with shiplap joints or battens.
• Under exterior wall finish materials as permitted in
Table R703.4
• Under paperbacked stucco lath.
 2004 IRC Changes

Exceptions allowing a builder not to use a

weather resistive barrier have been eliminated.
 2004 IRC Changes

RB 224 IRC will require the use of a weather

resistive, vapor permeable barrier with
performance equivalent to two layers of Grade D
paper behind stucco
 NFPA 5000

37.3.1.2 Barriers shall be a minimum of one layer of

building paper meeting the Federal Specification
UUB-790a, Specification for Building Paper,
Vegetable Fiber: Kraft Waterproofed, Water
Repellent, and Fiber Resistant for Kraft waterproof
building paper with Type 1 felt in accordance with
ASTM D-226, Standard Specification for Asphalt
Saturated Organic Felt Used in Roofing and
Waterproofing.
 NFPA 5000
Installation Requirements
37.3.1.4 The barrier shall be applied horizontally and
lapped upper layer over lower layer in weatherboard
fashion for lengths of not less than 3 in. (76 mm)
horizontally and 6 in. (152 mm) vertically.
 NFPA 5000

2 layers of Grade D weather resistive barrier

behind stucco over wood based sheathing
 National Building Code of
Canada

Subsection 9.23.17.3 Wall Sheathing membrane

1. Except as provided in Articles 9.23.17.4, 9.23.17.5,
9.23.17.6., at least one layer of sheathing membrane
shall be applied beneath siding, stucco or masonry.
 National Building Code of
Canada Installation
Requirements

Shall be applied so that joints are lapped not less than

4”

Applied horizontally, the upper sheets shall overlap

the lower sheets.
 CAN/CGSB-51.32-M77, Sheathing,
Membrane, Breather Type

Width Tolerance -6 mm

Pliability Shall not crack when bent 90º

around a15mm mandrel at
-10± 2ºC

Tensile Strength 3.5 N/mm

Water Vapour Permeance

Min. 170 ng/Pa·s·m²
Max. 1400

Water Vapour Permeance (max) after 2900

accelerated aging
Applications

• Weather barriers
must be installed in
shingle lap fashion
Design Considerations
• Paper based products allowed for “Walls” within
30º of vertical
• Paper based products are not allowed on “Roofs”
with a slope of less than 60º from horizontal
Product Exposure Limits

• Davis Wire Cover product as soon

as possible
• Fortifiber Cover product as soon
as possible
• Hal Cover product as soon
as possible
Product Compatibility
• Compatible with all dissimilar products in
contact with WRB

• Use systems of products from

manufacturers that have tested for
compatibility

• Document compatibility with sealant

manufacturer
Applications

• Weather-resistive
barriers are used
behind:
– Three-Coat
Portland Cement
Plaster (Stucco)
– One Coat
– EIFS
Applications

• Water-resistive
barriers are also
used behind:
– Other claddings such
as Stucco Brick,
Hardboard Siding,
Vinyl, Aluminum,
Fiber Cement and
Wood Siding
System Requirements
• The success of the
system depends on all of
the components in the
building envelope
performing equally
well.
Proper Installation
www.fortifiber.com
Review of Current Building Science
Findings
 Northwest Wall and Ceiling
Bureau

• Project Objective:

– To determine if a stucco wall assembly would

drain water between the basecoat and the WRB
 Additional Observations

– Stucco basecoat developed shallow random waves

that channel water down the wall

– Natural drainage channels were created on the back

of the stucco
• Project Findings:

• Proper installation of WRB and integration with flashing

is one of the most important factors in the successful
performance of exterior walls
• Project Findings:

– 2 layers of WRB was shown to provide better

drainage control than one layer behind all types of
cladding not just stucco.
– Building paper swelled when wet and shrank when
dry creating natural drainage channels in stucco

– 2 layers of building paper create an airspace behind

stucco providing drainage
 References
– American Society Testing Materials
– Building Science Corporation
– Davis Wire
– Fortifiber Building Systems Group
– Hal Industries
– International Code Council
– National Building Code of Canada
– National Fire Protection Association
– Northwest Walls and Ceiling Bureau
– Oakridge National Lab
– United States General Services Administration